The South Australiait Naturalist. 



of Other animals: the sueker-tishes attach themselves to sun- 

 fishes, sharks, and laro:er fishes, whilst other species live within 

 the dig-estive cavities of anemones; sea-cucumbers, and starfishes, 

 or between the mantles of bivalve mullouscs. 



''Safety in numbers" is the axiom of some feeble pelagic 

 fishes which are constantly preyed upon; others deposit 

 astonishing numbers of eggs to ensure the perpetuation of their 

 race. 



Combative defence constitutes the power to disable an 

 opponent. Many fishes have strong spines with which danger- 

 ous wounds ma^' be inflicted, and often they are additionally 

 armed vrith poison organs, or the flesh itself is poisonous. About 

 fifty different sorts of fishes can give electric shocks ; three 

 species of electric rays occur in St. Vincent Gulf. These living 

 galvanic batteries are transformed from the muscles or, as in a 

 single case, from the skin. Although everything is known of 

 their structure, science has yet to determine how the electric 

 energy stored in the battery is produced. 



Lecture, 31/8/20.— Dr. R. H. Pulleine lectured on ''Tas- 

 manian Scenes." The lecturer showed beautiful slides of 

 Tasmania's National Park in southern Tasmania, near Hobart, 

 comprising 38,000 acres, and known as Russell Park. The 

 Field Naturalists' Club of Tasmania usually make two outings 

 to the Park in each year, at Easter and Christmas, and it was 

 at the end of last year that Dr. Pulleine accompanied the party 

 on a tour of several weeks through magnificent scenery. The 

 rainfall in this district is very heavy, and the Park is provided 

 with an abundance of lakes and streams. The topography, Avitli 

 its hanging lakes and rounded valleys, was particularly interest- 

 ing, and showed everywhere traces of a comparatively late 

 glacial period. Some of the lakes were situated in the high- 

 lands, and snow was a common occurrence in the winter. The 

 forest at some of the higher altitudes was one of dead timber, 

 and it is thought that a very severe winter must have killed the 

 trees. A new forest growth is coming up, but is as yet quite 

 short. The views from some of the mountains were superb ; 

 on clear days ranges 100 miles away could be clearly discerned. 

 The Russell and Barron Falls, with tlieir tree ferns and other 

 plants, were a beautiful sight. Alpine plants were a special 

 feature on some of the higher moors. The lecturer ^^as heartily 

 thanked for his enjoyable and beautifully illustrated lecture. 

 The humorous side of the party's experiences was particularly 

 appreciated. 



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